Knitting-machine.



No. 806,921. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

J. E. ROWE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.6, 1900.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wz'inesses; Inven Zor zfiaw xzm J. E. ROWE.

PATBNTED DEC. 12, 1905.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Hum, 1900.

FIG, 2,

9 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

lnvenior PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

J. E. ROWE. KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED rmm. 1900.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- InvenZ0r: W65 .ByZMLi TV'iinesses No. 806,921. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905,

J. E. ROWE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1900.

' 9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

FIG. 4-,

v Inveniar Wiinesses No. 806,921. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. J. E. ROWE.KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED FEBJ"). 1900.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

FIG. 5.

minesses rmivr No. 806,921. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. J. E. ROWE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.5. 1900.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

No. 806,921. PATENTED DEG.'12, 1905. J. E. ROWE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED rmm. 1900.

9 SHEETS-SHEET -'luuinmm "nmm I08 IJIIIII Wit asses: nvenf r .-.!/meUzi; 3%-"--- 41 ggmzzwn No. 806,921. I PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905,.

J. E. ROWE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.5. 1900.

9 SHEETSSHEET 8.

PATENTEDDEC. 12, 1905-.

J. E. ROWEL,

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IBB.6. 1900.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

Invenior B JMXM' flllarngy.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. ROWE, OF PAWTUOKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO 'E. JENOKESMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PAWTUOKET, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OFRHODE ISLAND.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed February 5, 1900. Serial No. $095.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES E. ROWE, of Pawtucket, county of Providence,and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Knitting-Machines; and I do hereby declare the followingspecification, taken in connection with the drawings forming a part ofthe same, to be a full, clear, and eXact description thereof.

The present invention relates to that class of rotary knitting-machinesused for knitting stockings, in which the needles are mounted in aneedle-cylinder and are acted upon by cams carried by a cam-cylinder,one of said cylinders being rotated during the knitting of the foot andleg of the stocking and being given an oscillating movement during theknitting of the toe and heel of the stocking.

The various features of the invention are preferably embodied in amachine in which all the operations are automatically effected, althoughthey are not limited in their application to such a machine.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine which shallbe simple and inexpensive in construction and efiicient in action, andthis is effected by the employment of the features and combinationshereinafter described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings all the features and combinationscomprising the invention are embodied in their preferred forms in anautomatic knitting-machine for knitting stockings or half-hose.

In said drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of the leftside ofthe machine. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the right side of the machine.Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the knitting-head andclutch-shaft.

Fig. 4 is avertical sectional view through the tails of the stopmechanism. Fig. 15 is a plan view of the extra-thread mechanism, and

Figs. 16 to 20 are details of the same.

In general the machine embodies a needlecylinder, a cam -cylinder,mechanism for changing the speed of the machine, mechanism for changingthe motion of the cam-cylinder from rotary to reciprocating, and viceversa, mechanism for controlling the devices which throw theinstep-needles out of action and effect the narrowing and widening onthe toe and heel, and mechanism for raising .and lowering theneedle-cylinder for changing the length of the stitch. Mechanism is alsopro' vided for introducing an extra thread at the heel and toe and alsomechanism for stopping the machine when knitting half-hose.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the needles 1, Fig. 3, are mountedin grooves in the needle-cylinder 2 and are provided with butts 3, whichare acted upon by cams mounted on the inside of the cam-cylinder 4 inthe usual manner. The cam-cylinder is provided with a flange 5, which isheld in a recess in the base-plate 6 by a ring 7. A ring 8 is secured tothe upper end of the needle-cylinder and is grooved to receive thesinkers 9, which are operated by the sinker cam-ring 10in the usualmanner.

The needle-cylinder is removably supported by a cup-ring 11, providedwith an inwardlyprojecting flange 12, carrying screws 13, upon the headsof which the cam-cylinder rests. A spring-pin 14 (see Fig. 7) isprovided for engaging a recess in the lower end of the needlecylinder,and thus positioning said cylinder in the cup. The cup-ring is split, sothat it may be contracted upon the cylinder. When in position in thecup, the cylinder is rigidly secured thereto by a clamping-rod 15, whichmay be operated by a handle 16 to tighten or loosen the cup-ring, andthus clamp or unclamp the needle-cylinder. The cup-ring 11 rests upon anadjusting-ring l7 and is provided with a series of laterally-projectinglugs 18, which pass through slots 19 in the frame and preventthecup-rings from turning, while allowing vertical movement thereof. Thead justing-ring 17 and the cup-ring are mounted within a cylindricalcasing 20, depending from the base-plate 6, and said adjusting-ring issupported on a series of roll 21, which are mounted on the inner surfaceof said casing and engage spiral cam-grooves 22 in the adjusting-ring.The cup-ring is held firmly upon the adjusting-ring by springs 23,interposed between the lugs 18 and base-plate. The adjusting-ring may beturned by a rod 24, whichprojects laterally from a ring 25, secured tothe under side of said adjustingring. The ring 25 may also carry a guard26 for directing the knit fabric down past the motion-changingmechanism. When the rod 24 is turned either by hand or automatically,the cam-grooves 22, acting on the rolls 21, cause a vertical movement ofthe adjustingring. and a consequent vertical movement of the cup-ringand needle-cylinder, thus varying the length of the stitches drawn bythe needles. By clamping the needle-cylinder to the cup-ring saidcylinder and cup become, in efiect, a single piece during the knitting,and said cylinder and ring are firmly held from vertical movementindependent of the adjusting-ring by the springs 23. Thus the cylinderis firmly held in position and still is capable of vertical adjustmentand may be readily'rcmoved and replaced. These means for supporting theneedle-cylinder embody features of invention which will be moreparticularly set forth in the claims.

Motion is transmitted to the cam-cylinder 4 from a clutch-shaft 27through a gear 28, secured-to the upper end of said shaft, which engagesa gear '29, secured to said cylinder. The clutch-shaft 27 is mounted invertical bearings and has mounted thereon an oscillating pinion 30 and arotating pinion 31. A clutch 32 is keyed to slide on the shaft 27between the pinions 30 and 31, and said shaft is given a. continuousrotary movement or an oscillating movement, according as the pinion isengaged by said clutch. The oscillating pinion is located above theclutch and is held in position on the shaft 27 by a collar 33, securedto said pinion and having a flange 34, engaged by a plate 35, secured tothe frame. The rotary pinion 31 is provided with a hub 36, passingthrough a bearing 37 and held in place therein by a nut 38, screwed ontothe lower end of said hub. A hand-wheel 38 may be secured to the nut 38or be formed integral therewith, by which the machine may be operatedmanually. The pinion 31 is a spiral pinion and is driven continuously bya spiral gear 39, Fig. 2, secured to the end of the main shaft 40. Theoscillating pinion 30 is driven by a rack formed on abar 41, which isheld in engagement with said pinion by the plate 35. The bar 41 isprovided with a transverse slot 42, which is engaged by a crank-pin 43on the side of the gear 39, and the bar beyond said slot is guidedbetween two rolls 44. This construction furnishes a simple and compactmechanism for giving the cam-cylinder either a rotary or oscillatingmovement. Afurther advantage arising from the use of spiral gears forgiving the rotary movement to the clutch-shaft is that it enables theclutch and driving shafts to be so located that their axes do notintersect, and

thus the driving-shaft maybe more conveniently arranged to operate othermechanisms.

The clutch 32 may be shifted to change the motion of the cam-cylinderbyany suitable mechanism and is preferably so shifted by anovelmechanism which embodies certain features of invention. Themechanism for shifting the clutch embodies a continuously-rotating camand connections between the same and the clutch, the parts being soconstructed and arranged that by effecting a relative movement betweenthe cam and the parts engaged thereby the cam may be caused to shift theclutch in either direction. The relative movement between the cam andconnections is preferably effected by shifting the cam on its shaft,although this manner of effecting the movement is not essential to thebroad scope of the invention. 'In the drawings this feature of theinvention is shown in its preferred form, Figsf3, 4, 6, and 7. As shown,the clutch 32 is provided with an annular groove which is engaged by anarm 45, secured to a vertically-sliding rod 46, mounted in the frame.The rod 46 is connected with the front end of a lever 47, pivoted onastud 48, projecting from the frame, the rear end of said lever beingprovided with two arms 49 and 50, which are arranged in differentvertical planes and extend upon opposite sides of the shaft 40, the arm49 being above the shaft and the arm 50 below the shaft. A cam 51 iskeyed to slide on the shaft 40 and is arranged to engage either the arm49 or 50.

The cam 51 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 4 by a spring52, interposed be tween the hub of said cam and the hub of an eccentric,which is fixed to the shaft and will be hereinafter referred to. Whenthe cam is in this position, the rear end of lever 47 is raised and theclutch is in engagement with the pinion 31, which drives the shaft 27and the cam-cylinder with a continuous rotary motion. When the motion ofthe cam-cylinder'is to be changed from rotary to reciprocating, the cam51 is moved to the left, Fig. 4, to bring said cam above the arm 50,when said arm is depressed, thus raising the front end of lever 47 andshifting clutch 32 from pinion 31 into engagement with pinion 30. Nowthe cam-cylinder will be reciprocated until the cam 51 is shifted backinto its normal position on shaft 40, when it will again raise the arm49 and shift the clutch into engagement with the rotary pinion. Themechanism for shifting the cam is of course timed to shift the cam whenit is in position to pass laterally above the arm 50 or below the arm49, and the cam is preferably provided with two swells or engagingparts, as shown. In the construction shown the cam is shifted againstthe tension of spring 52 by means of a lever 53, pivoted on a stud 54,Fig. 6, and

IIO

to be acted upon by a cam 57, formed on a cam-disk 58. The cam-disk isoperated at proper intervals to bring the cam under the end of lever 53,and thus shift the cam 51 laterally by devices which will be hereinafterdescribed.

During the reciprocating motion of the cam-cylinder or while the toe orheel of a stocking is being knit about one-half the needlesthat is, theinstep-needlesare out of action, being thrown out of action at thebeginning of reciprocating knitting and thrown into action at the end ofthe reciprocating knitting. During the first half of the reciprocatingknitting the number of active needles are gradually decreased to narrowthe fabric being knit, and during the last half of the reciprocatingknitting the needles rendered inactive during the narrowing operationare gradually returned into action to effect the widening of the fabric.The devices for throwing the instep-needles out of and into operationand the devices for effecting the narrowing and widening in the machineshown are similar to the devices shown and described in the patent tomyself No. 570,059, granted October 27, 1896, and as in said patentthese devices are controlled by cams on a stud carried by thecam-cylinder, said cams being operated by a pawl-carrying arm on saidstud. This pawl-carrying arm is indicated at 59, Fig. 2, and referencemay be had to the said patent for a full description of the devicesoperated by the movements of the pawl-carrying arm. In the presentconstruction the arm 59 is operated by striking a pin 60, mounted in theframe and arranged to be brought into the path of the arm by devices tobe described. The pin 60 is provided with a notch 61, through which thearm 59 normally passes as the cam-cylinder rotates or reciprocates. Whenthe pin is moved downward, however-,the arm 59 strikes saidpin and isswung about itspivot to operate the devices on the cam-cylinder. Thefirst operation of the arm 59 causes the instep-needles to be thrown outof operation, the second operation of said arm throws the wideningdevices into operation, the third operation causes the instep-needles tobereturned and the widening devices to be thrown out, all as clearlydescribed in said patent. The pin 60 is operated at the proper timesthrough an arm 62, secured to a shaft 63 and having its forward endconnected with said pin. A second arm 64 is secured to the shaft 63 andhas its rear end arranged in the path of a series of cams 65, carried bythe disk or drum, the arms 62, shaft 63, and arm 64'forming, in effect,a needle-controlling lever for operating the pin 60. This pin,togetherwith the devices operated thereby, form the mechanism in themachine shown for controlling the operation of the needles.

It is usual in rotary knitting-machines to drive the machine at a highspeed during rotary knitting and at a slower speed during reciprocatingknitting, and the mechanism for effecting this result in the machineillustrated and for changing from one speed to the other is as follows:A gear 66 is secured to the end of the shaft 10 and is engaged by apinion 67, formed on the hub of a pulley 68. The pulley 68 is mounted torevolve on a stud 69, secured to the frame and carrying a loose pulley70 outside the pulley 68. A second loose pulley 71 is mounted to turn onthe hub of pulley 68 inside said pulley. When the machine is on rotaryknitting, a fast belt 72 runs overthe pulley 68 and drives the machine,a slow belt 73 at this time running idly over the pulley 71. When thespeed is to be changed, the fast belt is shifted onto the pulley 70 andthe slow belt is shifted onto the pulley 68 and drives the machine at areduced speed. When the machine is to be stopped, the belt which is onthe pulley 68 at that time is shifted onto its loose pulley, so thateach belt runs idly over its loose pulley. The mechanism for thusmanipulating the belts is novel and embodies certain features ofinvention. This mechanism embodies two beltshifters arranged to belocked together, so that the speed of the machine may be changed bysimultaneously shifting both belts and to be disconnected and movedindependently of each other, so that the driving-belt may be shiftedonto its loose pulley without shifting the idle belt from its loosepulley. The preferred form of this mechanism is as follows: The belt 72passes through the fork 7 1 of a belt-shifter 75, and the belt 71 passesthrough the fork 76 of a shifter 77, said shifters being in the form ofslides or bars mounted side by side in the frame, Fig. 8. A spring 79connectsthe two shifters and tends to throw the shifter to the left andshifter 77 to the right. The means shown for connecting the two shiftersso that they will move together is in the form of a latch 80, pivoted at81 to the shifter 75 and having a s'houlder'82 arranged to engage anabutment or shoulder on the shifter 7 7, formed by a pin 83, whichprojects through a slot 84 in shifter 75. When the latch is engaged withthe pin 83, the spring7 9 is under tension and the two shifters areconnected, so that they move together, and the forks 7 1 and 76 are sorelated that one of the belts 73 or 72 is upon the pulley 68 and theother upon its loose pulley. When ward the left, and a boss 86 on theshifter 77 forms'a stop for limiting the movement of said shifter towardthe right.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed to operate the belt-shifters; butit is preferred to operate said shifters in one direction by a springand in the opposite direction by a cam, which acts to hold the shiftersin position during reciprocating knitting or while the slow belt is onthe pulley 68. When the shifters are thus operated, means are preferablyprovided for breaking the connections between the cam and shifters, sothat the shifters may be moved to stop the machine even when the cam isin position to hold the slow belt on the driving-pulley. As shown, theconnected shifters are moved toward the right, Fig. 8, by a spring 87,connected to shifter 77 and to the frame, and are moved toward the leftagainst the tension of spring 87 by a cam 88, Figs. 5 and 6, carried bythe cam-disk 58 and arranged to operate on the upper end of a lever 89,pivoted on the stud 54 and having its lower end connected with theshifter 77. With this construction of mechanism for operating theshifters the shifter 77 is held by the cam in its lefthand position andwould not be shifted to the right by spring 79 when the shifters aredisconnected unless the connections between the cam and shifter werebroken. The end of lever 89 is therefore preferably connected to theshifter 77 by a latch 90, pivoted at 91 to the shifter 77 and having ashoulder 92 arranged to engage a pin 93 on the end of lever 89.

The latches and are preferably con nected by a pin 94, projecting fromlatch 80 through a slot 95 in latch 90, so that said latches may besimultaneously lifted to disconnect the shifters and break theconnections with the operating-cam, The latches in the constructionshown are connected by a rod 96 with a frame 97, Figs. 5 and 11, pivotedon the hubof a pawl-carrier to be described, which in turn is pivoted onastud 98, secured in the frame, Fig. 4. The frame 97 normally restsagainst a stop 99, Fig. 6, and is provided with a laterally-projectingrod 100, forming a handle by which said frame may be rocked to lift thelatches and stop the machine. The frame 97 may be automatically rockedto stop the machine by means of an arm or lever 101, loosely pivoted ona shaft 102, mounted in said frame, said arm extending forward andresting upon a pattern-chain 103, Figs. 11 and 13. The arm 101 isprovided with a shoulder 104 near its forward end, which is so arrangedthat when the arm is raised by a lug 105 on the pattern-chain I saidshoulder is brought into the path of a reciprocating pawl 106, whichdraws said arm forward, thus rocking frame 97 and stopping the machine.The machine may be started by a lever 107, pivoted at 108 and having ahandle 109 at the front of the machineand having its rear end passingthrough slots 110 and 111 in the shifters 77 and 75, respectively.Supposing the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 8, which is theposition they would occupy when the machine is stopped on rotaryknitting, then by swinging the front end of lever 107 to the left therear end of said lever'will be caused to act against the right end ofslot 111 and move shifter 75 to the right, carrying the fast belt ontopulley 68 and bringing latch 80 into engagement withpin 83. If themachine is stopped when the belt 73 is on pulley 68, in which case thelower end of lever 89 will be in the dottedline position, Fig. 8, thenby swinging the front end of lever 107 to the right the rear end iscaused to engage the left end of. slot 111 and force shifter 77 to theleft and engaging latch 80 and also bringing latch 90 into position toengage lever 89. When the machine is in condition for reciprocatingknitting, the fast belt should not be shifted onto the driving-pulley,and means are therefore provided for preventing such movement of thefast belt. This means preferably consists of a stop carried by the leverwhich controls the position of the clutch, which stop is arranged toprevent the movement of the rear end of the lever 107 toward the rightwhen the clutch'is in engagement with the oscillating pinion. This stopis formed by the end 112 of a slot formed in an arm 113, secured to theend of lever 53, through which slot the lever 107 passes, Fig. 4.

When a toe or heel is being knit, an extra thread is usually knit intothe fabric with the main thread, and the needle-cylinder is raised atsuch time to lengthen the stitches drawn by the needles. This is done inthe construction shown by the action of acam 114, Fig. 12, carried bythedisk 58, acting through suitable connections with the rod 24. The camacts upon the end of a lever 115, projecting from a sleeve 116, mountedon the stud 48, Figs. 3, 6, and 12, and provided with a projecting lug117. A second sleeve 118 is also loosely mounted on the stud 48 and isprovided with projectinglug 119, carrying a screw 120, the end'of whichengages lug 117. The sleeve 118 is provided with an arm or lever 121,the outer end of which is connected by a link 122 with a lever 123,pivoted at 124 to the frame and having its lower end connected with therod 24 by a link 125. The upper end of the lever 123 carries a screw126, which engages the frame and forms an adjustable stop fordetermining the normal position of the adjusting-ring 17, and thereforethe height of the cylinder and length of stitch. The stop is heldagainst the frame by the action of a spring 127, having one endconnected to the link 122 and the other to the frame. The cam 114 isformed on a ring 128, secured to the disk 58, which ring also carriesthe cams 65, already described, and on the edge of which the cam 88 isformed. The end of the lever 115 during rotary knitting lies in. arecess 129 in the ring 128. When the disk 58 is rotated at the beginningof the heel or toe, the cam 114, formed by the end of recess 129,strikes the end of lever 115 and rocks said lever, thus through theconnection described moving the rod 24 rearward and raising theneedle-cylinder to lengthen the stitch. During the knitting of the heelor toe the end of lever 115 rides on the ring 128, and theneedle-cylinder is thus held elevated until the recess 129 is broughtopposite the end of lever' 115, which occurs at the completion of theheel or toe. By adjusting the screw 120 the amount of movement given tolever 115 by the cam 114 may be regulated and the length f stitch on theheel or toe thus regulated.

The cam or controller disk 58, which carries the cams for controllingthe speed and motion changing mechanisms,the cams for controlling theoperation of the needles, and the cam for controlling the length of thestitches on the toe or heel, is mounted on the stud 98 and is driven bythe action of a reciprocating pawl 130,arranged to engage ratchet-teethformed on said disk.. In the machine illustrated the disk isprovidedwith twelve'teeth, Fig. 12, every fourth one of which is a longtooth, forming a dwell on which the operating-pawl rides idly until thedisk is advanced far enough to allow the pawl 130 to engage said tooth.The disk is given this advance movement at the proper times by pins orprojections 131, carried by the pattern-chain and arranged to engageabutments on the cam-disk, said disk having three such abutmentscorresponding to the number of long teeth or dwells thereon. Theseabutments are preferably formed by arms or levers 132, pivoted to thedisk 58 and arranged to engage a earn 133, which is mounted in a ring134, secured to the stud. The-cam 133 is so arranged that the arm 132,corresponding with the teeth on which the pawl 130 isworking, is held upin the path of the projection 131 on the chain 103. The other arms areheld against the ring 134 by springs 135, so that they cannot strike anysucceeding projection 131 and feed the pattern-chain forward improperly.The outward swing of the arms is limited by pins 136. When a projection131 strikes the arm 132, which rests on the cam .133, the disk 58 isadvanced so that the long tooth is engaged by pawl 130, and the disk 58is then advanced step by step until the next long tooth is brought underthe pawl. The disk now remains at rest until another projection 131 onthe chain again starts the disk, when it is again fed forwarda third ofa revolution. In order that the pattern-chain may be run backward whendesired without the inconvenience of lifting each of the projections 131over the arm 132, which is on the cam 133, said cam is held yieldinglyin position, so that it may yield when a projection 131 strikes the backof an arm 132 and allow said projection to pass said arm. As shown, thecam 133 is formed on a plunger mounted in the ring 134 and supported bya spring 137.

The pattern-chain 103 passes over a sprocketwheel 138, mounted on a stud98, and said chain is fed forward by a pawl 139, which engages aratchetwheel 140, formed on said sprocket-wheel. The pawl 139 is mountedin a pawl-carrier 141, mounted upon the stud 98. The pawl-carrier isoscillated continuously by an eccentric 142, secured 'to the shaft 40and carrying an eccentric-strap 143, the other end of which is pivotedto the lower end of the pawl-carrier, Fig. 11. The pawl 139 is mountedto slide vertically in the pawl-carrier, being guided by a screw 144,working in a slot 145. For the greater part ofits travel the pawl rideson a shield 146, carried by a plate 141, secured to stud 98, the travelof the pawl beyond the end of the shield being just suflicient toadvance the ratchet one tooth. The pawl-carrier 141 also carries thepawls 106 and 130, which are mounted in a similar manner to pawl 139.

In knitting ladies stockings it is usual to gradually increase thelength of the stitches in knitting the calf of the stocking, and thepresent machine is provided with a mechanism for automatically effectingthis fashioning of the stocking. The means employed forthis purposeconsists of a cam 148, Figs. 1, 4, and 10, formed on a disk or drum 149,which is secured to a ratchet-wheel 150. The ratchet wheel and disk aremounted on a'bushing 151, which is screwed onto the end of stud 98, Fig.4. The cam 148 is arranged to act upon a roll 152, mounted on a stud153, Fig. 10', which is secured to the lever 123, said cam as it isadvanced acting to gradually swing said lever about its pivot and rotatethe adjustingring 17 to raise the needle-cylinder. The stud 153 ismounted in a slot 154 in the lever 123, Fig.

10, and is engaged on opposite sides by screws 155, which determine itsrelation to the earn 148. The stud is provided with a flange 156, whichengages one side of the lever 123, and said stud is secured in positionby a nut 157, which engages the opposite side of the lever. By adjustingthe stud in the slot the variation in the length of stitch over the calfof the stocking may be regulated. 7

When ladies stockings are being knit, the product of the machine is acontinuous tube, which is afterward severed at points a number ofcourses from each toe, and in order to assist the operator in severingthe tube at the proper points it is preferred to introduce at thesepoints one or more courses of long stitches. The preferred means foreffecting thisconsists of a swell or projection 158 onthe machine beginsto knit the toe.

knit, and thus cause one or more courses of unusually long stitches tobe formed at this point.

After the stockings have been separated the loops or stitches at theedge of the toe are picked onto the carrier of a machine, by which thetoe is closed and the stocking completed. In order to facilitate thisoperation, the machine is provided with means for introducing a courseof long stitches or a loose course as Any suitable means may be employedfor this purpose without departing from the broad scope of this featureof invention. The means which it is preferred to use for this purposebecause of its simplicity and convenience of construction and operationconsists of a cam 159, Fig. 1, which is arranged to act on the lever 123during the course just preceding the beginning of the toe. This cam ispreferably formed on the same disk with cams 148 and 158 and is locatedjust beyond the cam 158. After the cam 158 has raised theneedle-cylinder for the cutting-off course or courses the roll 152 restsin the depression between cams 158 and 159 for several courses, and thenthe cam 159 acts to again raise the needle-cylinder for the formation ofthe looping-course. When knitting half-hose, the fashioning-cam 148 isnot used, and in this case the looping-courses are formed by a series ofcams 159, formed on the drum 149 and separated from the cam 148 by aflange 160. The roll 152 in this case is shifted on the stud 153 toengage the cams 159, as shown in Fig. 10. The roll 152 is thus shiftedby swinging the lever 123 away from cam 148 until the roll may be movedlongitudinally on the stud 153 without striking the flange 160 and thenallowing the lever to swing forward until the roll rests on the cam 159or its movement is arrested by the screw 126.

The drum 149 may be operated at the proper times by any suitablemechanism, but is preferably operated by means of a pawl 161, mounted inthe pawl-carrier 141 and arranged to engage the ratchet-wheel 150. Thepawl 161 is normally held out of engagement with the ratchet 150 by aguard 162, which underlies a pin 163 projecting from said pawl. The

guard 162 is formed on an arm 163, secured.

to the end of the shaft 102, before referred to. An arm 164, Fig. 11, issecured to the other end of the shaft 102 and carries a rod 164, whichis adjustably secured therein by a set-screw 165. The lower end of therod 164 is arranged in the path of lugs 166 on the pattern-chain 103, sothat when one of said lugs engages the rod 164 the shaft 102 is rocked,thus swinging arm 163 downward and allowing the pawl 161 -to engageratchet150 and feed the same and the drum 149 forward. The shaft 102 isheld in its normal position by a spring 167, one end of which is securedto the frame and the other end to the arm 164,

said spring acting to hold the arm 163 against a stop168, secured on therod 100. The spring 167 also serves to hold the frame 97 in its normalposition.

As before stated, it is usual to introduce an extra or supplementalthread during the knitting of the toe and heel, and although this may bedone by hand it is preferred to provide mechanism for automaticallyintroducing the extra thread at the beginning of the toe or heel and forwithdrawing said thread at the completion of the toe or heel. Apreferred form of such mechanism is as follows, Figs. 1, 2, 5, 15, and20: This mechanism comprises in general a trough for bringing the extrathread into engagement with the main thread, a holder which holds theend of the extra thread during rotary knitting, and a cutter forsevering the extra thread. Means are also provided for supplying slackthread as the extra thread is carried along by the main thread, so thatthere may be no tension on the extra thread tending to hold it frompassing to the needles with the main thread. In the construction shownthe devices for inserting and withdrawing the extra thread are supportedby a bracket 169, secured to a rod 170 rising from the frame. A rod 171,secured in the bracket 169, extends forward over the knitting-head andsupports a frame or support 17 2 at its front end. The main thread a isled from the usual bobbin through guide 172, through a thread-eye 173,under a clamp 174, through the eye 175 of a take-up 176, from which .itpasses through a guide 177 in the frame 172 to the main thread=guidecarried with the cam-cylinder. The extra thread 6 passes through a guide178 to a guide 179 on the bracket 169, thence through guides 180, 181,and 182 to a thread-eye 183, formed in a V-shaped trough 184, from whichit passes to the holder formed by the stationary jaw 185 and the movablejaw 186, where the leading end of the thread is held until said threadis to be inserted. When the thread bis to be inserted. the guides .180and 182 move forward, thus giving up slaok'thread, and the trough 184moves forward, carrying the extra thread to the main thread and holdinga considerable length of said thread against the main thread. At thesame time the jaws of the holder are opened and the extra thread iscarried along with the main thread by its en= gagement therewith. Whenthethread is to be withdrawn, the guides and 182 move back, thus drawingthread from the bobbin, and trough .184 moves back, thus separating theextra thread from the main thread and bringing it between the jaws ofthe holder,

which are then operated to grip and hold the thread. One of the jaws ispreferably pro vided with a knife 187 for cutting the extra thread. Thetrough 184 is carried by two arms 188 and 189, pivoted on the rod 171,and said trough is moved toward the main IQQ thread by a lever 190,pivoted on rod 171 and engaging an arm 191, projecting from the arm 188.The arm 191 is held in engage ment with the lever 190 by a coiled spring192, oneend of which is secured to a collar 193 and the other to the arm189. The lever 190 also carries a cam 194, arranged to engage thetake-up arm 195 and hold said take-up out of operation during rotaryknitting. When the take-up arm is down, as it is when the thread isbeing drawn to the needles, being held down either by the thread or bythe cam 194,

timed.

a projection 196, carried by said take-up, engages the clamp 174 andholds said clamp out of engagement with the thread. The jaws 185 and 186of the holder are supported on the support 172 just back of and to oneside of the thread-guiding eye 175. The movable jaw 186 is pivoted at197 and is acted on by .a spring 198, which forms a friction-brake,

tending to hold the jaw in any position into which it may be moved. Themovable jaw 186 is operated from the trough 184 through a link 199,connected at one end to an arm 200, projecting from the arm 189 andprovided at its other end with a slot 201, which is engaged by a screw202, carried by the jaw 86. During rotary knitting the lower end of slot201 engages screw 202 and holds the jaws closed. Then the trough 184 isadvanced, the slot 201 rides over the screw, and just as the troughcompletes its forward movement the upper end of slot 201 strikes screw202 and opens the jaws. When the trough is moved backward, the guide-eye183 draws the thread 6 to one side away from the main thread and betweenthe jaws 185 and 186, and as the trough completes its backward movementthe lower end of slot 201 strikes screw 202, closing the jaws andsevering the extra thread. The lever 190 may be operated at the propertime by any mechanism which is suitably In the construction shown thislever is operated from the lever 53, which controls the shifting of theclutch. The lever 190 is connected, by means of a link 203, with one endof a lever 204, the lower end of which is pivoted on the hub of lever53, Fig. 7. The lever 204 is provided with an extension 205, whichsupports the guide-eyes 180 and 182, and with an arm 206, which carriesa screw 207, arranged to be engaged by the upper end of lever 53. Whenthe lever 53 is operated by cam 57, said lever acts against lever 204,forcing it to the right and swinging the trough 184 forward. This takesplace just previous to the shifting of the clutch. At the completion ofthe toe or heel the roll 56 runs off of the end of the cam 57, and thelever 53 is rocked toward the left to cause the shifting of the clutchinto engagement with the rotary pinion. This allows the lever 204 toswing to the left and the trough 184 to move back away from the mainthread. In order that the extra thread may be separated from the mainthread and severed without danger of carrying the main thread betweenthe jaws of the holder, it is preferred to first move the trough 184back far enough to separate the threads and then give it its finalmovement to operatethe cutter and holder. This is done in the machineshown by cutting away the end of cam 88 at 208, so that lever 53 maymove to the left before it runs off the end of the cam. This slightmovement of the lever'53 does not shift the cam 51, but allows thetrough 184 to move back to separate the threads. In the machine shownthe parts are so timed that the roll,56 runs off theend of cam 57 whenthe cam-cylinder is in such a position that the instep-needles are notknitting, and thread is not, therefore, being drawn to the needles. Iflever 204 immediately followed the lever 53, it would therefore swing tothe left, and thus cause the operation of the cutter and holder when themain thread was slack, the take-up at this time being held down by thecam 194. The main thread being thus slack might lie between the jaws ofthe holder when they were operated and be severed with the extra thread.It is preferred, therefore, in case the take-up is held out ofoperation, as in the construction shown, to provide means for preventingthe operation of the cutter and holder until the cam-cylinder is in sucha position that thread is being drawn to the needles. This means in theform shown consists of a finger 209, projecting from the lever 204 andarranged to ride on the cam 57 after the roll 56 has left said cam. Thisfinger runs off of the end of the cam just after the instep-needles havebegun to knit, and the main thread is therefore drawn taut betweenguides 173 and 175, when the extra thread is severed.

The general operation of the machine is as follows: During rotaryknitting the parts .are in the position shown, with the exception thatthe belt-shifters are locked together and the fast belt is on the pulley68. When the machine is to pass onto the heel or toe, one of the pins131 on the pattern-chain strikes an arm 132 and starts the disk 58,bringing the long tooth into position to be engaged by the pawl 130. Thedisk is now fed forward four teeth. During the first forward movementthe cam 88 shifts the slow belt onto the pulley 68, thus reducing thespeed of the machine. During the second movement the cam 57 shifts thecam 51, thus changing the motion of the cam-cylinder from rotary toreciprocating and throwing in the extra thread. Cam 114 lifts .theneedle-cylinder to lengthen the stitch, and one of the cams shifts thepin 60 to cause the instep-needles to be thrown out of operation. Duringthe third movement the lever 64 runs ofi of the cam 65 and the pin 60returns to normal position, and the fourth forward movement brings thesecond long tooth under the pawl 130. The

cause the widening devices to be thrown into action, and the fourthmovement carries cam 65 from under lever 64 and also brings the thirdlong tooth under pawl 130. vThe disk 58 now remains stationary until theheel or toe is completed, when it is again started and fed four stepsforward. The first and second movements are idle movements. During thethird movement the third cam shifts the pin 60 to cause the wideningdevices to be thrown out of action and the instep-needles to be throwninto action, the roll 56 and finger 209 pass into recess 208 and off ofthe end of cam 57, thus causing the extra thread to be withdrawn and theclutch to be shifted from the oscillating to the rotary pinion, andlever 115 passes into the recess 129, thus lowering the needle-cylinderto its normal position, and during the fourth movement the cam 65 movesfrom under lever 64, thus restoring pin 60 to its normal position. Theend of lever 89passes off of the cam 88, thus shifting the fast beltonto pulley 68, and the first long tooth is again brought under the pawl130. The machine continues on rotary knitting until another heel or toeis to be formed, when the same cycle of operations is again performed.The manner of forming the courses of long stitches for cutting off andfor closing the toes, the manner of fashioning over the calf of thestocking in knitting ladies stockings, and the manner of stopping themachine when knitting half-hose have already been sufficientlydescribed.

In transferring tops to the needles of the -machine when knittinghalf-hose the needlecylinder is lowered by hand below its normalposition and then returned to its normal position. In order to enablethis operation to be quickly and accurately performed, the mechanism forautomatically operating the devices for regulating the height of theneedle-cylinder is so connected with said devices that it may bedisconnected therefrom and said devices operated by hand. In the formshown the link 125 is removably connected with the rod 24, preferably byforming an open-sided recess 210 therein, which fits over the rod 24,Fig. 1. When the needle-cylinder is to be lowered by hand, the link 125is raised to disengage it from the rod 24, and said rod is swung forwarduntil it strikes a stop 211, carried by said link, which stop isadjustable and determines the distance the needle-cylinder is lowered.When the link 125 is raised, a shoulder 212 thereon moves up in front ofa stop 213, which prevents backward movement of said link. The rear sideof the recess 210 extends below the front side and acts as a safety-stopto prevent the rod 24 from being moved back too far in returning the rod24 to its normal position, in which it is engaged by the recess 210.

WhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a needle-cylinder, of a concentric ringsupporting the same, a concentric adjusting-ring, and springs holdingthe supporting-ring firmly against the adjusting-ring.

'2. The combination with aneedle-cylinder, of a concentric ringsupporting the same, means for securingthe needle-cylinderthereto, aconcentric adjusting-ring, and springs for holding the supportingringfirmly against the adjusting-ring.

3. The combination with a needle-cylinder, of a ring for supporting thesame. an adjusting-ring provided with a spiral cam-groove, and supportsengaging said groove.

4. The combination with a needle-cylinder, of a ring supporting thesame, means for securing the cylinder thereto, an adjusting-ringprovided with a spiral cam-groove, supports forengaging said groove, andsprings for holding the supporting-ring firmly against theadjusting-ring.

5. The combination with a needle-cylinder, of a cup-ring, a clamp forsecuring the cylinder therein, a positioning-pin on the cup-ring, anadjusting-ring provided with a spiral camgroove, and supports engagingsaid groove.

6. The combination with a needle-cylinder, of a ring for supporting thesame, lugs projecting from said ring, grooves in which said lugs ride,an adjusting-ring, and springs between said lugs and a fixed frame.

7 The combination with a needle-cylinder, of a cup-ring 11,aclamping-rod 15, lugs 18 on said ring 11, grooves 19, an adjusting-ring17 having a cam-groove 22, supports 21 engaging said groove, and spring23 above lugs 18. r

8. The combination, with a cam-cylinder, of a clutch, connectionsbetween said clutch and cam-cylinder for transmitting the motion of theclutch to the cylinder, a reciprocating member, a rotary member, arotary cam, a lever connected with the clutch to move it into engagementwith either one or the other of said members and having two armsarranged on opposite sides of said cam and in different planes, andmeans for shifting said cam to engage either of said arms, substantiallyas described 9. The combination with a cam-cylinder, a rotary and anoscillating pinion, of a clutch for engaging either of said pinions,connections between said clutch and cam-cylinder for transmitting themotion of the clutch to the cam-cylinder, a rotary cam, a leverconnected with said clutch and having two arms arranged on oppositesides of said cam and in different planes, and means for shifting saidcam to engage either of said arms.

10. The combination of a shaft, two pinions one of which is a spiralpinion, a clutch for connecting either of said pinions with. the shaft,a spiral gear engaging the spiral pinion and arranged in a differentplane, a rack engaging the other pinion, and connections between saidspiral gear and rack for reciprocating said rack.

11. The combination of a shaft, two pinions one of which is a spiralpinion, a clutch for connecting either of said pinions with said shaft,a spiral gear engaging said spiral pinion and arranged in a differentplane, a bar provided with a rack engaging the other pinion, atransverse slot in said bar, and a crankpin carried by said spiral gearand engaging said slot.

12. The combination of a clutch-shaft, two pinions one of which is aspiral pinion, a clutch for connecting either of said pinions with saidshaft, a shaft arranged at right-angles to said clutch-shaft, a spiralgear secured to said shaft and engaging said spiral pinion, a rackengaging theother pinion, and connections between said rack andsaidspiral gear.

13. The combination .of a clutch-shaft, two pinions one of which is aspiral pinion, a clutch for connecting either of said pinions to saidshaft, a shaft arranged at right angles to said clutch-shaft, a spiralgear carried thereby and engaging said spiral pinion, a rack-barengaging said other pinion and provided with a" transverse slot, and acrank-pin on said spiral gear engaging said slot.

14. The combination with a cam-cylinder, of a vertical clutch-shaftgeared thereto, two pinions on said shaft one of which is a spiralpinion, a clutch for connecting either of said pinions to said shaft, ahorizontal shaft, a spiral gear thereon engaging said spiral pinion, arack-bar engaging said other pinion and having a transverse slottherein, and a crankpin on said spiral gear engaging said slot.

15. The combination with a cam-cylinder, of a gear 29 secured thereto, aclutch-shaft 27,

a gear 28 secured thereto and engaging gear I 29, a pinion 30 on saidshaft, a spiral pinion 31 on said shaft, a clutch 32 between saidpinions, driving-shaft 40,,a spiral gear 39 thereon engaging pinion 31,a rack-bar 41 engaging pinion 30, a slot 42 therein, and a crank-pin 43carried by gear 39 and engaging said slot.

16. The combination, with the cam-cylinder of a knitting machine, ofmechanism for clutch, a rotary cam 51, a lever 47 connected with saidclutch, and having arms 49 and 50, a lever 53 for shifting said cam 51,and an intermittently-operating cam for acting on said lever. I

18. In a knitting-machine, the combination with mechanism for changingthe motion from rotary to reciprocating, of a driving-pulley, two idlepulleys, two belt-shifters independently movable, a starting-lever foroperating either of said shifters to start the machine, and means forpreventing the movement of said lever to carry the fast belt onto thedriving-pulley when the machine is on reciprocating knitting.

19. In a knitting-machine, the combination with mechanism for changingthe motion frorn, rotary to reciprocating, a lever 53 for operating thesame, a speed-changing mechanism embodying two shifters 77 and 75, alever 107 for operating either of said shifters, and a stop carried bylever 53 for preventing the movement of lever 107 in one direction whensaid lever 53 is in position for reciprocating knitting.

20. The combination with a needle-cylinder, of an adjusting-ring forraising and lowering the same, a lever connected therewith, a sleevefrom which said lever projects having a lug, a second sleeve having acorresponding lug, a screw for adjusting the distance between said lugs,a lever projecting from said second sleeve, and a cam for acting on saidlever.

21. The combination with a needle-cylinder, of an adjusting-ring forraising and lowering the same, a link 125 connected therewith, a lever121, a link 122 connecting said lever and link 125, alever 115 connectedwith lever 121, and a cam 114 for acting on lever 115.

22. The combination with a needle-cylinder, of devices for lowering andraising the same, a lever connected with said devices, a cam 148 foroperating said lever, a ratchet connected to' said cam, a reciprocatingpawl for engaging said ratchet, a guard for holding said pawl out ofaction, and a patternchain provided with lugs for operating said guard.

23. The combination with a needle-cylinder, of devices for lowering andraising the same, a cam for operating the same, a ratchet connected withsaid cam, a reciprocating pawl for engaging said ratchet, a guard forholding said pawl out of action, a shaft carrying said guard, an armsecured to said shaft, and a pattern-chain having a series of lugs forengaging said arm.

24. In a machine for knitting stockings, the combination with the needleand cam cylinders, of mechanism for rotating and reciprocating one ofsaid cylinders, mechanism for changing the motion from rotary toreciprocating, and mechanism for changing the rela- IIO tion of theneedles and knitting-cam and operating the'motion-changing mechanismduring successive revolutions of the rotary cylinder whereby a course ofloose stitches is formed adjoining the short courses formed duringreciprocating knitting.

25. In a machine for knitting stockings, the combination with the needleand cam cylinders, of mechanism for rotating and reciprocating thecam-cylinder,mechanism for changing the motion from rotary toreciprocating, and means for raising the needle-cylinder and operatingthe motion changing mechanism during successive revolutions of thecam-cylinder whereby a course of loose stitches is formed adjoining theshort courses formed during reciprocating knitting.

26. In a machine for knitting stockings the combination with theneedle-cylinder, of devices for raising the same, a lever connectedtherewith, a drum carryingtwo sets of cams,

and an adjustable roll on said lever for en.

gaging either set of cams.

27 In a machine for knitting stockings the combination with theneedle-cylinder, of devices for raising the same, a drum two sets ofcams carried thereby, and means for connecting either set of cams withthe raising devices. V

28. In a knitting-machine the combination with a speed-changingmechanism, a lever for operating the same, a motion-changing mechanism,a lever for operating the same, mechanism for controlling the operationof the needles, a lever for operating the same, of a disk carrying camsfor shifting the speed-changing lever and the motion-changing lever andholding them in their shifted positions until said disk has madesubstantially a revolution, and a series of cams on said disk forsuccessively operating the needlecontrolling lever during the revolutionof said disk.

29. In a knitting-machine the combination with a motion-changingmechanism, and mechanism for varying the length of stitch, of levers foroperating said mechanisms, and acamdisk carrying cams for shifting saidlevers and holding them in their shifted position during substantially arevolution of said disk.

30. In a knitting-machine the combination with a motion-changingmechanism, and mechanism for controlling the operation of the needles,of a cam-disk, a cam on said disk for operating the motion-changingmechanism, a series of cams on said disk for operating theneedle-controlling mechanism, a ratchet on said disk having a series oflong teeth forming dwells corresponding in number to said series ofcams, a pawl for engaging said ratchet, and means for starting saiddisk.

31. The combination with a speed-changing mechanism, of alever 89connected therewith, a motion-changing mechanism, a lever 53 connectedtherewith, a needle-controlling mechanism, a lever 64 connectedtherewith, acamdisk 58, earns 88 and 57 thereon, a series of cams onsaid disk, ratchet-teeth on said disk having a number of long teethcorresponding to earn 65, a pawl for engaging said ratchet and meansfor'starting said disk.

32. The combination with a controller-disk, of arms connected therewith,a pattern-chain having projections for engaging said arms, and means foryieldingly supporting said arms in the path of said projections.

33. The combination with a controller-disk, of arms 132 pivoted thereto,a pattern-chain having projections for engaging said arms, and ayielding cam for supporting said arms in the path of said projections.

34. The combination with a stud, of a controller mounted thereon, apattern-chain carrier mounted thereon, acam-drum for raising theneedle-cylindermounted thereon, ratchets connected with said controller,carrier and drum, a pawl-carrier mounted on said stud, and pawls carriedby said carrier for engaging said ratchets.

35. The combination with a stud, of a controller mounted thereon, apattern-chain carrier mounted thereon, a cam-drum for raising theneedle-cylinder mounted thereon, ratchets connected with saidcontroller, carrier, and drum, a pawl-carrier mounted on said stud,pawls carried by said carrier for engaging said ratchets, a stopmechanism, an operating-frame connected therewith and supported on saidstud,'and a pawl carried by said pawlcarrier for operating said frame.

36. The combination, with the cam-cylinder of a knittingmachine, ofmechanism for changing the motion thereof from rotary to reciprocatingand vice versa, embodying a clutch, a rotary cam 51, a lever 47connected with the clutch and provided with arms 49 and 50, a spring 52for holding cam 51 in line with arm a9, a lever 53 connected with cam 51and a cam 57 for acting on lever 53.

37. In a knitting-machine, the combination of an adjusting-ring forregulating the height of the needle-cylinder, a rod 24 connectedtherewith, a link 125 provided with an open recess for engaging saidrod, and mechanism for operating said link.

38. In a knitting-machine the combination of an adjusting-ring forregulating the height of the needle-cylinder, a rod 2 connectedtherewith, a link 125 provided with a recess 210 engaging said rod, astop 211 carried by said link, a shoulder 212 on said link, a stop 213,and mechanism for operating said link.

JAMES E. ROWE.

Witnesses:

.[RA L. FISH, R. A. BATES.

